$10.3 million tragedy: Child mowed down
By Brad A. Greenberg
LA Daily News
ENCINO - Michael Sandels held his little girl's hand as they walked on the sidewalk next to the parking lot at Lanai Road Elementary School.
Jordan Sandels was 6 and, as little girls do, was gabbing about the most trivial thing. Anything was fodder for conversation with her father, even the obstacle course she had run during school that day, Jan. 13, 2005.
Only Jordan couldn't say "obstacle." She pronounced it "obstibable."
That is the only thing Sandels remembers about their final conversation.
"We were in the middle of a sentence, and suddenly she was just gone," he recalled Wednesday. "I looked to the side and behind me, and I totally just panicked.
"But then I saw her. She was pinned underneath a minivan that had crashed into a car on the curb."
Last Thursday, a jury in Van Nuys Superior Court held the Los Angeles Unified School District liable for Jordan's death, issuing a $10.3 million verdict because it determined the parking lot was a safety hazard that district officials were aware of.
But the money won't bring back Jordan or the Sandels' joyful lives. It won't bring back Shawn Sandels' big sister.
"We didn't go to church much before that, but I chose not to blame God," Sandels said. "I believe he was watching on, horrified, with us."
If so, what God saw was Lauri Dowling make a tragic mistake as she attempted to pull out of a parking space for the handicapped.
Dowling, who lawyers said suffers from multiple sclerosis and drove a vehicle with hand-operated brakes, told authorities she lost control of the van after putting it in reverse.
Traveling backward, the van careened onto the sidewalk and ripped Jordan from her father's hand, not stopping until it hit a parked car.
Jordan was pronounced dead at Encino-Tarzana Regional Medical Center.
Jurors found Dowling 20 percent responsible, but she will not have to pay, said Mark J. Henderson, the Sandels' attorney. LAUSD officials are considering whether to appeal.
"At the end of the day, it remains a tragedy and one we don't think the district should have been held liable for," said Kevin Reed, the district's general counsel.
"This little girl was exactly where she should have been that day. You just can't foresee a car is going to come screaming at high speeds in reverse up a sidewalk."
If there is no appeal or an appeal fails, LAUSD's insurers will cover the payout after $3 million, Reed said.
Sandels said he hopes the size of the jury verdict will spur school districts nationwide to better ensure student safety.
Sandels said he and his wife, Nicky, are establishing the Jordan Sandels Foundation, to which they will donate up to half of the payout. The foundation will focus on improving traffic safety at grade schools.
The Sandels also plan to lobby for federal legislation regarding zero-tolerance for traffic hazards near schools.
"Maybe the awareness of this could save children's lives we don't even know about," Sandels said. "That is what my wife and I are going to dedicate our lives to doing from now on."
Sandels' relationship with Jordan transcended the typically special father-daughter bond. He wasn't just her hero. While his wife was away at work, Michael Sandels, a freelance writer and actor, played Mr. Mom.
After Jordan died, the Sandels tried to stay in their Valley Glen home. But the burden was too heavy, and last year they moved to West Orange, N.J.
"The house and Los Angeles will always be sacred to us," Sandels said. "But it was just too difficult, too painful. After a while, a lot of our friends started to seem uneasy around us. It was just too painful to stay."
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LA Daily News
Family to promote safety with part of award by jury
ENCINO - Michael Sandels held his little girl's hand as they walked on the sidewalk next to the parking lot at Lanai Road Elementary School.
Jordan Sandels was 6 and, as little girls do, was gabbing about the most trivial thing. Anything was fodder for conversation with her father, even the obstacle course she had run during school that day, Jan. 13, 2005.
Only Jordan couldn't say "obstacle." She pronounced it "obstibable."
That is the only thing Sandels remembers about their final conversation.
"We were in the middle of a sentence, and suddenly she was just gone," he recalled Wednesday. "I looked to the side and behind me, and I totally just panicked.
"But then I saw her. She was pinned underneath a minivan that had crashed into a car on the curb."
Last Thursday, a jury in Van Nuys Superior Court held the Los Angeles Unified School District liable for Jordan's death, issuing a $10.3 million verdict because it determined the parking lot was a safety hazard that district officials were aware of.
But the money won't bring back Jordan or the Sandels' joyful lives. It won't bring back Shawn Sandels' big sister.
"We didn't go to church much before that, but I chose not to blame God," Sandels said. "I believe he was watching on, horrified, with us."
If so, what God saw was Lauri Dowling make a tragic mistake as she attempted to pull out of a parking space for the handicapped.
Dowling, who lawyers said suffers from multiple sclerosis and drove a vehicle with hand-operated brakes, told authorities she lost control of the van after putting it in reverse.
Traveling backward, the van careened onto the sidewalk and ripped Jordan from her father's hand, not stopping until it hit a parked car.
Jordan was pronounced dead at Encino-Tarzana Regional Medical Center.
Jurors found Dowling 20 percent responsible, but she will not have to pay, said Mark J. Henderson, the Sandels' attorney. LAUSD officials are considering whether to appeal.
"At the end of the day, it remains a tragedy and one we don't think the district should have been held liable for," said Kevin Reed, the district's general counsel.
"This little girl was exactly where she should have been that day. You just can't foresee a car is going to come screaming at high speeds in reverse up a sidewalk."
If there is no appeal or an appeal fails, LAUSD's insurers will cover the payout after $3 million, Reed said.
Sandels said he hopes the size of the jury verdict will spur school districts nationwide to better ensure student safety.
Sandels said he and his wife, Nicky, are establishing the Jordan Sandels Foundation, to which they will donate up to half of the payout. The foundation will focus on improving traffic safety at grade schools.
The Sandels also plan to lobby for federal legislation regarding zero-tolerance for traffic hazards near schools.
"Maybe the awareness of this could save children's lives we don't even know about," Sandels said. "That is what my wife and I are going to dedicate our lives to doing from now on."
Sandels' relationship with Jordan transcended the typically special father-daughter bond. He wasn't just her hero. While his wife was away at work, Michael Sandels, a freelance writer and actor, played Mr. Mom.
After Jordan died, the Sandels tried to stay in their Valley Glen home. But the burden was too heavy, and last year they moved to West Orange, N.J.
"The house and Los Angeles will always be sacred to us," Sandels said. "But it was just too difficult, too painful. After a while, a lot of our friends started to seem uneasy around us. It was just too painful to stay."
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